World Country Guide

Travel - International

Air
The territory has its own airline, Air Macau (NX) (website: www.airmacau.com.mo), which operates regional flights. Other airlines serving Macau include Air China, China Eastern Airlines, EVA Airways, Shangdong Airlines, Silk Air, TransAsia Airways and Xiamen Airlines. A variety of charter airlines operate from Japan.

Approximate flight times
Flights from Europe and North America are usually via Hong Kong. From Hong Kong to London is 14 hours; for other flight times, see Hong Kong (SAR) in the China (PR) section.

International airports
Macau International Airport (MFM) (website: www.macau-airport.gov.mo) is 7km (5 miles) southeast of the city. Buses run to the city and Macau-Hong Kong ferry terminal via major hotels (travel time – 45 minutes). Bus fares cost MOP4-6. Taxis to the city centre are also available for approximately MOP40 (travel time - 15 minutes). Airport facilities include banks and bureaux de change, car hire, duty free shops and restaurants.
An ExpressLink service is also available, allowing fast, trouble-free transfer between Macau and Hong Kong airports. Ferries depart approximately every 15 minutes (travel time – 55 minutes). On arrival at Macau Ferry Terminal, passengers travel by a special shuttle bus to the enclave’s airport. Travellers should allow approximately one hour between ferry arrival time in Macau and departure time from Macau International Airport.

Departure tax
MOP80 per person (MOP50 per child aged two to 12) for destinations in China (PR), and MOP130 (MOP80 per child aged two to 12) for other destinations. Children under two are free, and transfer/transit passengers departing Macau within 24 hours are exempt. Payment must be made in local currency, and credit cards are not accepted.

Helicopter
East Asia Airlines and Helicopters Hong Kong Limited (website: www.helihongkong.com) operate daily flights (every 30 minutes; 0930-2259) between Hong Kong and Macau (travel time – 16 minutes). Cost: HK$1600 (weekdays) or HK$1700 (weekends and public holidays) one way. Helicopters depart from the Macau Maritime and Heliport Terminal, situated in the Outer Harbour.

Sea
A wide variety of vessels sail the 60km (37 mile) distance between Macau and Hong Kong: jetfoils, jumbocats, turbocats, hover-ferries and catamarans. There are more than 100 scheduled sailings each way throughout the day, while jetfoils operate round the clock. Passengers are advised to be at the terminals at least 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time in order to complete immigration formalities; there is always a standby queue for a prior boat for passengers who arrive unexpectedly early.
Jetfoils depart every 15 minutes from 0700 and every 30 minutes between 1730/1800-0400 (travel time – 55 minutes). Turbocat services take 1 hour. Catamaran services take one hour 10 minutes. For further details, contact First Ferry Macau (tel: 2131 8181; e-mail: ferry_ideas@nwff.com.hk; website: www.nwff.com.hk).
Tickets to Hong Kong can be bought in Macau up to seven days in advance. For travel from Hong Kong to Macau, jetfoil and jumbocat tickets can be bought up to 28 days in advance. A computerised booking system is available from Hong Kong MTR Travel Service Centres in the MTR stations of Admiralty, Central, Tsim Shat Sui, Causeway Bay, Mongkok, Tseun Wan and Kowloon Bay.
Telephone bookings for jetfoil services can be made by holders of American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa (tel: (+852) 2859 6596); further information can be obtained from the Far East Hydrofoil Company Ltd (tel: (+852) 2859 3351 or 790 7039 (in Macau)).
The baggage allowance is 10kg per person on high-speed ferries and, in general, is limited to hand-carried items. Tour operators can arrange luggage-handling where required. Porters are available for heavy luggage.
There are also turbojet and ferry services to Fu Yong ferry terminal in Shenzhen, China (travel time – one hour).

Road
The crossing point into China is via the Barrier Gate (Portas de Cerco) (open 0730-0000 daily). Buses run frequently to and from this point from 0800-1830 (travel time – two hours 30 minutes).